Sightings

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Peter Baye had a fun sighting recently. He wrote, “An hour before sunset, I saw a small bird that I first thought was a Spotted Towhee from its movements. However, the round head revealed it was a daytime appearance of a Northern Pygmy Owl. It must be fairly hungry after last week’s long rains, since they can’t hunt well with the din of raindrops. It didn’t seem to mind my staring and taking photos.”

I love owls so I was happy to see this photo. Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share it with you here.

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Richard Hansen is the lucky person to live in Gualala and overlook Castle Rock. He has photographed various waves hitting a submerged rock in front of Castle Rock, which creates some interesting sightings. He swears this wave was ready to hug the distinctive rock.

One of my favorite photos by Richard of waves and Castle Rock is this one, taken a few years ago. It looks like a big monster is planning on hugging the rock.

Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Lovely sunny weather today. Lots of birds are singing their mating songs. It's a great time to be on the Mendonoma Coast.

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When the Pacific Ocean is roiled up, the blowhole at Hearn Gulch erupts with a loud "whoosh!" Debra Mundt recently photographed the blowhole going off.

And here's a nice photo Debra took from the beach, showing the creek emptying into the Pacific Ocean with the blowhole going off in the distance.

Parking for Hearn Gulch is found at mile marker 10.0 in Mendocino County. To learn more about it, and other coastal access points brought to us courtesy of the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy, here is their website: http://www.rc-lc.org/

Thanks to Debra for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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James Adams spotted this beautiful Bobcat hunting in a meadow on The Sea Ranch.

You can see the tufted ears in James' photo. Fun fact: each Bobcat's markings are unique, just like our fingerprints.

Thanks to James for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We are having sunny but windy weather today. The northwest wind causes upwelling in the Pacific Ocean, igniting the entire food chain.

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Fuller Creek is part of the Gualala River and it's found on Fuller Mountain near Annapolis. Peter Baye photographed it after six inches of rain fell in one day last week.

Peter said it was a roaring whitewater, cascading down about 150 feet down to the main fork of the creek. Peter wrote, "I've never seen or heard it right after a heavy rain like this. It's like a little bit of the Sierras on the Gualala. This photo was taken just at the top where the sun was still on it at 5 pm."

One more small storm predicted for tomorrow, and then a stretch of sunny days and starry nights.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you  here.